Indian farmers

Survey on the state of Indian farmers –by CSDS

For Bharath krishak Samaj

(Krishak Samachar – May – 2014)

A survey of over 5000 farmer’s households was conducted in 137 districts 18 states of the country. Investigators also interviewed one female one young member of the respondent house hold where ever possible. Over 11000 interviews given an insight is to their socio-economic conductions expectations hopes and vote choice.

Most respondents felt only rich farmers got the benefit of government schemes and policies related to farming only 10% behave that poor and small farmers have got the benefit from farm related schemes.

Appointments 85% of the farmers have heard about MGNREGA among those who have heard about this scheme 51% said that their house hold didn’t get the work under this scheme.

70% have not heard about direct cash transfer scheme. None the less 34% farmers support the idea of subsidy benefits going directs to their bank accounts.

Only 19% said that the subsidy should continue as it is.

Only 27% of the farmers have heard about the land acquisition law. Among those who had heard about this law 57% of the respondents said that formers stand to lose from this law.

83% of the farmers have not heard about foreign direct investment FDI. Among those who had heard about this law 51% of the respondents said that FDI should not be allowed in agriculture sector since farmers may not be able to bargain. 40% of the land less farmers supported the idea of FDI in agriculture.

19% farmers have not heard about the Kisan call centre. Among those who have heard of kisan call centre 70% farmers have not contacted any kisan call centre.

Approximates 62% of the interviewed farmers were aware about Minimum support price (MSP) among those who heard about MSP 64% said that they were not satisfied with the government decided rate of crops.

74% of farmers do not get farming related information form officials of agriculture department.  Those who get information only 3% say they get on regular basis.

Approximates 70% farmers said that their crops got destroyed in the last three years.

Approximates 15% had heard about suicide in their area. 41% respondents report domestic problems as most important reason for suicide cases 35% because of credit/loan followed by 14% because of crop failure.

Education health and employment emerged as major responsibilities that worry Indian farmers contrary to general opinion we find a low proportion of farmers worried about repayment of loans.

67% women say that the income from agriculture is not sufficient to fulfill the livelihood needs of their family only 20% found it to be sufficient.

76% would prefer to do some other work rather than farming

61% interviewed farmers leave farming if they get an employment opportunity in the city.

As many as 60% said they want their children to migrate to settle in the city.

50% of the farmers are satisfied and 40% were dissatisfied with their present economic conditions.

40% said that compared to past five years their present economic conditions have improved 37% said no change nevertheless 42% farmers are optimistic about their future economic conditions to improve.

58% think both state and the control government are responsible for their problem.

Around 47% of the farmers said that the overall conditions of the farmers are the counting is bad.

Only 10% of the farmers are members of farmer’s organizations

67% of farmers said it was appropriate to take port in a demonstration or strikes in the last five years.

Most of the farmers said that not corruption but practice will be the most important issues for them. When they go out to vote in 2014 loksabha elections followed by unemployment and irrigation.

Remember in planning for welfare and development programmer make it a print to focus on capacity building and skill development of various categories is good rather effecting freebies like kilo rice for one rupee. T.Vs laptops, saris, cell phones etc.. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life time but not offering fish to man to feed him for a day.

Real empowerment is creating an equality society in which people do things for themselves. Welfare programmes should he followed on for those absolutes incomplete of doing any work for they the money wasted in ………… may attract the people for voles in our political system.

Typed matter….

A man, who realizes the potential of his mind by means of introspection and contemplation, does not lack self confidence. He has control over his mind and is able to realize its full potential. Everyday will have its own share of challenges, difficulties, rewards and achievements. Don't complicate matters by dragging over regrets of the past and fears of the future, live in the present. Do not dwell on past memories that are negative and emotional, the past is over and done, the future is yet to come, what is real is present which has to be faced and lived.

"Believe nothing no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it unless it agrees with your own reasons and your own common sense", said Gautama Buddha, Learn to love the darkness and endure the darkness, it shows the stars, Light and dark are both integral to existence.

Life is short, the vanities of the world are transient, all rich people, great statesmen or kings are not surviving despite financial fitness and power. Mere physical and financial fitness are not everything in life. A microbe or virus, bacteria may destroy strong body, Wealth may fail us; we only get what we deserve, God does not generally interfere with the law of karma for we reap what we sow. Things may not happen the way we planned, there may be some obstacles and progress for what we had planned as the outcome in our mind, Human mind has power of resilience and enormous potential; we are not able to tap even 10% of this potential.

The new leader needs to look with the third eye and awake the ancient wisdom to revitalise the human mindset to shape the face of India, Every time retrograde elements and divisive forces in Society raise their ugly head creating religious or communal problems paralysing the stability of the government, the need for change in leadership is felt even more.

Swami Vivekananda said, "The world is looking to us to show the way towards world peace". A strong and vibrant nation would emerge with scientific and technological progress combined with spiritual strength and equality. The clamour for reservations and recognition as under-privileged show societal rift in the country leading to some politicians exploiting the situation for their survival. The nation needs to acknowledge their past errors in order to avoid them in the future.

Today India's focus must remain steadfast on reforms and growth to reduce poverty and ensure adequate job creation. The common man is a silent sufferer in daily life which is vitiated by corruption in almost every sphere and every interface with public and officials, especially in routine transactions like grant of puttas, issuing of birth/death certificates, utility connections like water and electricity and avoiding of entitlements, daily harassment are widely faced by Small and medium scale enterprises, service and manufacturing entities. Land, judicial, electoral and police reforms are urgently needed. Several antiquated laws require urgent overhaul to reflect contemporary realities. Strong nexus exists between certain corporate, politicians, bureaucrats and power brokers. This is one of the greatest threats for Indian economy.

Don't forget millions of people oppressed with poverty, hunger, unemployment, illiteracy and disease are looking with great hope for leadership of new generation to bring them out of this chaotic situation in India.

A strong dynamic leader should emerge to set things right. It could be you. Why not? Youth inspired to come to the forefront in hundreds and thousands to bring fundamental change in the prevailing socio-economic political religions System with constructive approach, righteous attitude and dharma.

52

Now the hallmark of an effective legislator is seen to be an ability to shout and disrupt Assembly Proceedings. The political class has failed to meet the aspirations of our youth in the country; Power breeds politics more often than politics leads to power.

It's time the youth should engage themselves with political civil systems to find solutions for challenges facing the society. They should set a new agenda for a change to find innovative Solutions. Ignite young minds to emerge as new breed of leaders to handle policy making for future, including foreign policy and economic reforms should be simple and clear. Uncluttered reforms and productivity should be the aim in reforms.

Remember the new age democracy or civilization need to move forward coming to terms with its past democracy or civilization.

agriculture is the lowest among all sectors. According to a recently released report of ministry of labour and employment, the share of industry in GDP is 28% while that of Service sector is pegged at 58%. Although industry and service sectors constitute 86% of India's GDP, they provide employment to only 47% of the work force. It is evident that part of employment problem stems from lack of skill development and inadequate creation of employment opportunities in the non agriculture sector.

Today there is palpable cynicism, helplessness in the people regarding future as they have reached the state of not trusting politicians, as most of them are corrupt with criminal record. Rising tide of criminals in politics is cause of annoyance among many people. Criminals are emboldened and uncontrolled ministers have made them blind,

Ever since independence political class backed by civil services not allowed the police to be independently accountable and maintained control over it for political purpose and this has reached saturation stage bursting all inconceivable injustices to the people. The police and civil segments are not correctly deploying their authorities for which they are appointed. The governance system made them helpless enslaving the police. The trustworthiness of police, civil servants and to some extent Judicial has to be re-established and they need to be rejuvenated with some spiritual, moral and ethical values, ensuring their authority without any interference of politicians.

Today the ruling party is not as it used to be in the beginning of independence. Things have gone beyond repair; greedy politicians are the root of all Indian problems. Day by day political instability is increasing with political parties loosing the broader vision and generally content to push through policies of patronage while in power and demand even more liberal welfare programmes when pushed out of power and launch election campaign with impracticable promises for votes. They are misleading the people with false promises and dividing them; keeping them divided and not allowing unity. The tragedy of our democracy is that there is no guarantee that the elected leader will continue to remain in the same party elected by voters. They are jumping from one party to another with selfish motives of power and money. Some regional political parties appear to be becoming fascists, they claim to worship the people and profess to love people like their own kin, do everything for votes to keep them in power. People should be alerted from such cunning politicians. These people just want authority to rule the people and exalt the community, culture and language to remain in power. They claim to be the guardians of state language and culture and promise to bring Cultural Revolution, in the process attracting children, youth and gathering frustrated, unemployed youth into their fold. They make them work for their cause, threatening, intimidating the innocents to support them and vote for their party. They do odd acts to gain public sympathy and convince the people by going to their villages and eating alongside them and giving a hand in their respective occupations. They are false prophets promising to provide laptops, sanction of fees, waiver of bank loans, Subsidy for all crops etc., if they are elected. This has been a problem in our system.

46